Trindall & Ors v Minister for Aboriginal Affairs [2004] NSWLEC 121

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Trindall & Ors v Minister for Aboriginal Affairs [2004] NSWLEC 121 Les Trindall (1A) Robert Lester (3A) Oswald Cruse (4A) William Murray (5A) James Morgan (6A) PARTIES : Manul Ritchie (7A) David Clark (8A) Wayne Griffiths (9A) Thomas Briggs (10A) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1R) Murray Chapman (2R) FILE NUMBER(S) : 41422 of 2003 CORAM: McClellan CJ Aboriginal :- NSW Aboriginal Land Council Validity of the appointment of an investigator Validity of the investigator's report Validity of the appointment of an administrator KEY ISSUES: Procedural Fairness: Minister's duty to accord procedural fairness in appointing an investigator and in appointing an administrator investigator's duty to accord procedural fairness during an investigation Words & Phrases: "extend" "extension" Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1984 (NSW) Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Act 2001 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 (NSW) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Patents Act 1952 (Cth) Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; Allen Allen & Hemsley v Deputy Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 81 ALR 617; Brettingham-Moore v St Leonards Municipality (1969) 121 CLR 599; Calvin v Carr [1980] AC 574; Cornall v A B (A Solicitor) [1995] 1 VR 372; Dainford Limited v Smith & Anor [1985] 155 CLR 342; Freeman v Health Insurance Commissioner (2000) 97 FCR 249; Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 ; Mahon v Air New Zealand Ltd [1984] AC 808; Minister for Local Government v South Sydney City Council (2002) 55 NSWLR 381; Minosea Pty Ltd v Australia Securities Commission (1994) 35 ALD 493; CASES CITED: Norwest Holst Ltd v Secretary of State for Trade [1978] Ch 201; Parke Davis Pty Ltd v Sanofi (No 2) (1982) 43 ALR 487; Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191; Peacock v Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission [2003] FCAFC 50; Peacock v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner [2003] FCAFC 50; Project Blue Sky Inc & Ors v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; R v Magistrate's Court at Lilydale; Ex parte Ciccone [973] VR 122; Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; Refugee Review Tribunal, Re: Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; State of South Australia v O'Shea (1987) 163 CLR 378; Tasker v Fulwood (1978) 1 NSWLR 20; Tickner v Chapman (1995) 57 FLR 451; Trustees of Christian Brothers v Cardone (1995) 130 ALR 345; Western Television Limited v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1986) 12 FCR 414 DATES OF HEARING: 19-22 January 2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/06/2004